Will any man with a wife, a mother, a sister, or a daughter, in our great state of Nebraska, write to Speaker Hilgers about the disbandment of the "Mother's Room" in the State Capitol building?
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In 2019 Senator Cavanaugh set about to secure a "Mother's Room" at the State Capitol Building. Prior to that point, mothers needing to express milk while visiting or working in our Capitol, did so in an empty stall in a public bathroom.
Leadership of the Legislature at the time told Senator Cavanaugh that no public funds would be expended for such a purpose, and so Senator Cavanaugh found a private donor to cover the expense -- The expense of providing a clean, safe, private place, for Mothers to perform a unique Life-Giving activity while in The People's House.
Last week Senator Cavanaugh, during open Floor Debate on Redistricting, let the People of Nebraska know that the Chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, Senator Dan Hughes, had unilaterally decided to disband the Mother's Room, to provide office space for a gentleman, in relation to an ongoing HVAC renovation in the building.
Senator Cavanaugh argued that there are many rooms in the building appropriate for an office, even during the building's renovation. Senator Hughes did not relent.
Senator Cavanaugh elected to vacate her office last week - the office of a sitting Senator - to provide an appropriate space for the gentleman currently occupying the Mother's Room. Senator Cavanaugh office sits empty even now, with Senator Hughes refusing to relent and restore the Mother's Room.
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Senator Cavanaugh in open Floor Debate on Redistricting this afternoon, accused the Pro-Life Senators on the floor of hypocrisy in failing to speak up on the mic in support of mothers in the Capitol. I agree.
The "pod" currently available to mothers in a public mail room, has neither a sink with running water for mother's hygienic needs, nor a refrigeration unit for storage of a mother's milk. It is not acceptable to Senator Cavanaugh or me.
The situation at the State Legislature is gross and wrong. I wish decent people would say something about it to the people with the power to change things.
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Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Hilgers - mhilgers@leg.ne.gov
Chairman of the Executive Board, Dan Hughes - dhughes@leg.ne.gov
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh - mcavanaugh@leg.ne.gov
Transcript for the Public Hearing on LB709 - Provide for a place to express breast milk in the State Capitol - https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/106/PDF/Transcripts/Government/2019-03-15.pdf
Every woman Senator co-sponsored LB709 when it was brought in the 106th Legislature. Senators in the Body now that were Co-Sponsors are silent in the record of the First Special Session. - https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/106/PDF/Intro/LB709.pdf
